Except for an early obsession with e.e. cummings, I know nothing about poetry. Can anyone recommend a good book to jumpstart my poetry literacy? [more inside]
posted by aparrish
on Oct 13, 2006 -
21 answers

How do I come up with a scientific theory to explain complex phenomena? My area of research is medicine, but I'm interested in the opinions of all flavors of scientists. [more inside]
posted by lunchbox
on Aug 3, 2006 -
8 answers

I have this weird theory involving ghosts (sort of) and I want to know if there are essays or writers out there with similar theories I can use to develop my own... [more inside]
posted by greta simone
on Jul 17, 2006 -
8 answers

How do I travel the West Coast by rail for cheap? I have the general plan mapped out (I want to go north... or south?). I most certainly will see people and places in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego. Hopefully in a semi-linear fashion with interesting walk-abouts in between. I'm thinking railpass. I'm not really asking for nuts and bolts, I'm asking for [more inside]
posted by tweak
on Jun 20, 2006 -
16 answers

I want to know more about the history of Russian biology--especially in the period from Darwin to Lysenko (roughly 75 years). I don't know any Russian, so the source has to be in English. Anyone know anything that would fit this description?
posted by onetreehill
on Feb 20, 2006 -
2 answers

Which recent book by Slavoj Zizek should I read? I've read "Welcome to the Desert of the Real" and "Did Somebody Say Totalitarianism?" and, although I don't agree with his politics, I really like his facetted style and sparkling wit. So what should be next on my reading list?
posted by Hjorth
on Feb 1, 2006 -
10 answers

Graph theory seems hot right now. Don't know much about it, though. If one wanted to learn some of the most practical, useable, and interesting results from the field where would one turn? Bonus points for applicability in social sciences and/or web apps. And, tangentially, if one was potentially interested in focusing on graph theory and the social sciences, where would one look at grad school? [more inside]
posted by namespan
on Jan 26, 2006 -
12 answers

I am looking for recommendations for books, textbooks, magazine articles, websites, etc. on network theory and social network theory. I am interested in "high theory" as well as the very practical "this is how you model a network that does such-and-such". I'll be happy with anything, however, as a beggar I be.
posted by mrmojoflying
on Jan 25, 2006 -
8 answers

In Bob Dylan's book Chronicles, Vol. 1 he describes an esoteric numerological scheme for playing guitar, saying most melodies are based on the number 2, but that he's taken it to the next level by choosing what to play based on the number 3. Can anyone explain what he is talking about? [more inside]
posted by johngoren
on Dec 29, 2005 -
23 answers

I want to do ear-training while driving to and from work. Several $20+ books come with CD's but I am just positive there is a free CD image somewhere I can make my own with. Anyone? [more inside]
posted by jester69
on Dec 9, 2005 -
10 answers

Tomorrow I'm giving a lecture about color -- specifically, I'm talking to designers about how to create color palettes. The talk is more concerned with aesthetics (i.e. what color combinations are striking) than tools (i.e. how to pick colors in Photoshop). But there will be some tools talk. Since there are many designers here, I'd love to know all your color-related tips. As the Xmas season is coming, I am sharing one of my own tips inside... [more inside]
posted by grumblebee
on Nov 15, 2005 -
15 answers

I'd like some good business (commodities, economics, markets, etc.) book to read. I'm tired of all the, excuse my French, BS books I've come across. I don't want a get-rich quick or anything motivational. I've read the summer reading standard Freakonomics and The World is Flat as of late, feeling the same way level of beach book dissapointment I did when I broke down and read The DaVinci Code. The former was entertaining, though somewhat useless and the latter just was boring and repetitive after say -- chapter 2. I've been paticularly interested in game theory lately and how it can be applied... [more inside]
posted by geoff.
on Oct 1, 2005 -
16 answers

I'd like to become familiar with the basics of the Narrative Theory/Narratology. Can anyone in the know recommend a primer, or other key reading(s) -- either seminal books or articles? Assume I next to nothing about the field (so seemingly obvious citiations are welcomed); also assume that I won't be put off by thick tomes or dense prose. Thanks!
posted by .kobayashi.
on Aug 4, 2005 -
19 answers

JewishHistoryFilter : Can anybody recommend a good book that dissects the common Jewish conspiracy theories and discusses their history? Extra points for readability. [more inside]
posted by afroblanca
on Jul 16, 2005 -
21 answers

So has anyone tried to explain sexual kinks and fetishes? I don't mean in a cataloguing sense, but in the same sense that an evolutionary biologist explains a fish's tail shape. Where it came from, what purposes it serves, that sort of thing.
posted by kavasa
on Mar 5, 2005 -
29 answers

I'm currently a junior in college majoring in computer science. Like most geeks I slacked off during high school and now find that I don't know a lot of very basic math (my geometry is horrible, my algebra skills could be much better). This is very embarrassing and I would like to get caught up with this material as quickly as possible. I have two questions:

1) Are there any math audio books? A google search didn't show any, but this would be the best for me.

2) Are there any books aimed at adults for personal study?

I'd like to understand the theory behind the math more than the math itself. Anyways, any help is appreciated.
posted by anonymous
on Nov 17, 2004 -
18 answers

[MusicTheoryFilter] I listen to techno music quite a bit and a little while back I realized that every techno song had some sort of change every 32 beats (or some multiple of 32 beats) [MI] [more inside]
posted by freshgroundpepper
on Jun 3, 2004 -
14 answers

Beat the Profs: I asked all my music professors this one, and none have an answer. Why is Western music based around C major rather than A major? (More inside) [more inside]
posted by Phatty Lumpkin
on May 18, 2004 -
14 answers

Users

About Ask MetaFilter

Ask MetaFilter is a question and answer site that covers nearly any question on earth, where members help each other solve problems. Ask MetaFilter is where thousands of life's little questions are answered.